Peace fam, quick hit coming at ya. Im about to take in this new Reflection Eternal LP which dropped today. I got a hold of a new track this weekend. This one is called ‘Ends’ featuring Bilal. Click here for download.

The Megatron Don Just Blaze is finishing his European ‘SoundClash’ Tour with The Alchemist. I’ve seen some footage and its a dope show. Blaze and the Chemist going back and forth, beat for beat. JB is playing Fortune Sound in Vancouver this weekend. Should be quite a dope show.

As of late I’ve mostly been offering you goodies from established artists and people you’re generally familiar with. Cats who’ve already put in their work and now have the luxury of having fans who actually pay attention whenever their name pops up.

Well, with ’09 on its death bed and the genesis of a new year upon us, I figured, let’s hang with some newer cats today. And even though these guys aren’t technically the newest, most unheard of bunch, they’re still working hard to have their cult followings blow up to the masses.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

No, the above title heading isn’t my prediction but in fact the name of the new record from Detroit’s torchbearer of production since the late great Dilla‘s passing, Black Milk.

As this is his 4th official drop (and like nth if you count mixtapes and what not) it’s odd for me to call Milk a new schooler just because he’s still relatively unknown to the masses. Everyone in the scene knows him and is quite familiar with his hard edged boom bap and pocket cadences, and homie’s been doing his thing for quite some time now. However, because of where he’s at and what he’s accomplished, general media still consider him part of this class and well, I guess it’s better than going the route of has-been. Anyway, from what I’m told, Milk’s swinging for the fences this year and I’ll be the first to admit I have a personal stake in seeing Detroit cats win. So, here’s my nudge for Milk to get his this year.

It seems like if you throw Jay (or J-)in your name, success is inevitable.

Jay Dee (Dilla not Dupri), Jay-Z, J-Rocc, J.J. Fad, J-Kwon…okay, so maybe not everyone who throws it in there, but there seem to be enough. Now to add to the list, the South’s first internationally known true-blue lyricist since ’93’s inauguration of a young Antwan Patton and Andre Benjamin, Jay Electronica.

Nas approved, Mos Def affiliated and Erykah Badu loved, in his short time in the business, the new Jay on the block has accomplished an incredible amount and shows absolutely no signs of slowing for the new year. If you’ve never heard him, just imagine Mos Def and DOOM‘s lovechild. Or better yet, why don’t you just take a listen for yourself. Courtesy of Jay and another blockbuster of a close affiliate in Just Blaze, I give you that new new.

This Roots affiliate, like many of the others (Malik B., Dice Raw, etc.), gets under appreciated for his work. I’m not trying to claim that he’s the hottest thing out, but he’s quite good at what he does and if you’re ever searchin for some good ol’ fashioned gettin it in type raps, he’s always worth checking.

Cut from the Roots ‘Sandwiches EP’, Truck brings you a minute of that raw ish. I like it beaucoup.